Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/410,547, filed Apr. 25, 2006, hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to providing cup holders, forbeverages or food items such as popcorn or fast food, in seatingarrangements, such as furniture, seating in passenger vehicles, aircraftor boats, and theatre seating, and more particularly to providinglighted cup holders for such seating arrangements.

In recent years, seating arrangements, such as upholstered chairs andsofas have sometimes included tables and cup holders for supporting foodand snack items, or beverages within easy reach of occupants of thechair or sofa. This has particularly been the case for specializedupholstered seating arrangements specifically designed for use with hometheater equipment. In some of these seating arrangements, the tablesurfaces and cup holders may be incorporated into an armrest, a spacerunit in a modular seating arrangement, or a fold-down backrest sectionof a sofa, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,182, to Rasnicket al. Seating arrangements of the type typically utilized in movietheaters also sometimes include cup holders, for beverages or food itemssuch as popcorn. U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,134, to Young et al, for example,shows a combination cup holder and armrest of the type used in movietheater seating arrangements.

Seating arrangements in vehicles, aircraft and boats are also sometimesutilized in conjunction with cup holders mounted in center consoles,dashboards, or accessory tables mounted adjacent the seatingarrangement. The following U.S. patents illustrate prior approaches toproviding cup holders in vehicles, located in center consoles, etc., ofa vehicle, located adjacent a seating apparatus of the vehicle: U.S.Pat. No. 6,896,387 B2, to Renfro; U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,439 B1, toTownsend et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,399 B1 to Hulse; and U.S. Pat. No.5,375,805 to Sudak et al. In some applications, it would be desirable toprovide a cup holder as part of the seating arrangement, rather thanhaving the cup holder located in an adjacent structure.

All of the above mentioned seating arrangements are often utilized underconditions of complete darkness, or limited visibility, in which it maybe difficult to readily locate the cup holders. In a home theaterseating arrangements, for example, this may lead to spillage ofbeverages or food items, resulting in staining or other damage beingdone to the seating arrangement or flooring materials adjacent to theseating arrangement. The inability to quickly locate a cup holderadjacent to a seating arrangement in a vehicle or a boat may result, notonly in spillage of the beverage or food, but may also cause theoperator of the vehicle or boat to be dangerously distracted.

In cup holders used in conjunction with seating arrangements in a boat,not being able to locate a cup holder during hours of darkness mayresult in beverage and food containers falling overboard andcontributing to pollution of the waterway in which the boat isoperating. In movie theater seating arrangements, spillage of beveragesand food items, caused by inability to accurately locate a cup holder,may significantly increase the time and cost required for cleaning ofthe theater and lead to customer dissatisfaction with a general lack ofcleanliness, sticky floors, or wet seats.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus and methodfor incorporating cup holders into seating arrangements which arecommonly used in darkness or reduced visibility, in such a manner thatthe cup holder is easier to locate in darkness or under reducedvisibility conditions. It is further desirable that such improvements bemade in a form which can be readily incorporated into existing seatingarrangements, in a manner which is unobtrusive and does not require anyadditional effort on the part of an occupant of the seating arrangementto utilize the cup holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed aboveare overcome by the present invention. The invention provides animproved apparatus and method for constructing and using a cup holder ina seating arrangement, by attaching a lighted cup holder to the seatingarrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and alight-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached tothe seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, and thelight-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle forilluminating the receptacle. Illuminating the cup holder, with a lightsource disposed within the receptacle of the cup holder significantlyfacilitates location and proper use of the cup holder during reducedvisibility or total darkness conditions, through the use of indirectlighting in a manner which is inconspicuous and non-distracting to anoccupant of the seating arrangement.

In some forms of the invention, a light-sensitive element is operativelyconnected to the light source for selectively controlling the lightsource, in such a manner that the light source does not produce lightwhen the light-sensing element detects ambient light of a selectedintensity. In this manner, illumination of the cup holder isautomatically provided only under conditions where visibility is reducedto the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder.

Some forms of the invention include a master lighted cup holder and oneor more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the masterlighted cup holder in such a manner that the light sources in the slavelighted cup holders produce light only when commanded to do so by themaster lighted cup holder. The master lighted cup holder may include alight-sensitive element, mounted on the body of the master lighted cupholder, and operatively connected to the light sources of both themaster and slave lighted cup holders, for selectively controllingproduction of light by the light sources in both the master and slavecup holders in such a manner that the light-sensitive element causes thelight sources to not produce light when the light-sensitive elementdetects ambient light of a selected intensity.

In some forms of the invention, a lighted element is disposed within thecup receptacle and operatively connected to the light source forreceiving light from the light source and illuminating the receptacle.The lighted element may take a variety of forms, such as an elongatedmember of translucent material having the light source attached thereto.The elongated member of translucent material may form a ring having aninner periphery thereof sized to allow for passage therethrough of a cupto be held by the cup holder.

A cup holder body, according to the invention may include asubstantially tubular side wall which is substantially closed at a lowerend thereof by a bottom wall, and open at a top end thereof, such thatthe tubular side wall and bottom define the cup holding receptacle. Thelighted element may be attached within the receptacle, adjacent to thebottom wall of the cup holder. The tubular side wall may further bestepped inward to form a mounting surface for the lighted element, withthe lighted element being mounted on the mounting surface.

In some forms of the invention, a light-sensitive element may be mountedremotely from the cup holder body. In other forms of the invention, thelight-sensitive element may be mounted on the cup holder body. Where thelight-sensitive element is mounted on the cup holder body, the cupholder body may include a substantially tubular side wall defining anaxis of the cup holder, a bottom wall substantially closing the lowerend of the cup holder, and an open top end of the cup holder having aflange extending substantially radially outward from the tubular sidewall, such that the tubular side wall and bottom wall define the cupholding receptacle. The lighted element may be attached within thereceptacle adjacent to the bottom wall of the cup holder body, with thelight-sensitive element being attached to the flange at the upper end ofthe cup holder for receiving ambient light and pinging on the upper endof the cup holder.

A lighted cup holder, according to the invention, may be provided in aform which is substantially identical to non-lighted cup holderspreviously used in seating arrangements, to thereby facilitateincorporation of embodiments of the invention into new seatingarrangements and retro-fitting of embodiments of the invention intoexisting seating arrangements.

Some embodiments of the invention may further include incorporation ofadditional features into the lighted cup holder. For example, in seatingarrangements including a massaging mechanism, a lighted cup holder,according to the invention, may include a massage controller operativelyconnected to the massaging mechanism for control thereof, with themassage controller having a user-controllable input for operating themassaging mechanism. The body of a cup holder, according to theinvention, may include a flange extending outwardly therefrom, forexample, into which a massage controller, or other devices such as a USBconnector, or other types of controls or connectors as appropriate.

The invention may be utilized on seating arrangements having cup holdersmounted on folding backrests, or other stowable portions of the seatingapparatus. In such embodiments, a lighted cup holder apparatus,according to the invention, may include a positionable actuated on-offswitch configured to automatically override the light-sensitive element,to turn off the illumination when the movable portion of the seatingarrangement is placed in the stowed position.

A lighted cup holder apparatus, according to the invention, may includea seating arrangement with one or more lighted cup holders attachedthereto. The invention may also be practiced in the form of a method forconstructing or operating a lighted cup holder apparatus, according tothe invention.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description and drawings of exemplaryembodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a first exemplary embodiment ofa lighted cup holder apparatus, according to the invention, including alighted cup holder circuit having one master and three slave lighted cupholders attached to a seating arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the lighted cup holder circuits ofthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away perspective illustration of the masterlighted cup holder of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective illustration of one of theslave lighted cup holders of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic illustrating an electrical circuit ofan exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of a second exemplary embodiment ofa lighted cup holder apparatus, according to the invention, including aseating arrangement to which the master and slave lighted cup holdersare attached in a different manner than the exemplary embodiment of FIG.1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a third exemplary embodiment ofthe invention, in the form of a lighted cup holder having attachedthereto control and signal connections for functions of a seatingarrangement not directly related to operation of the illuminationcircuit of the lighted cup holder.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to thoseembodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a lighted cup holderapparatus 100, according to the invention, including a seatingarrangement 102, and a lighted cup holder circuit 104, including amaster lighted cup holder 106, three slave lighted cup holders 108, anda transformer 110. Electrical interconnection between the master lightedcup holder, the three slave lighted cup holders 108, and the transformer110 are illustrated schematically in FIG. 2. Construction of the masterand slave lighted cup holders 106, 108 is described in greater detailbelow.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seating arrangement 102 of the first exemplaryembodiment of the lighted cup holder apparatus 100, according to theinvention, includes three upholstered reclining chair portions 112,having upholstered armrests 114 located on either side of the recliningchair portions 112, to form a furniture unit of the type commonlymarketed for use with home theater equipment. The master and slavelighted cup holders 106, 108 are located in the armrests 108, to therebyprovide ready access to occupants of the seating arrangement 102.

As shown in FIG. 2, the master lighted cup holder includes a cup holdercontroller 116, having a first electrical connection A with thetransformer 110, and a second electrical connector B, for connectionthereto of one of the slave lighted cup holders 108 through a matingconnector D of the slave lighted cup holder 108. Each of the slavelighted cup holders 108 includes an additional electrical connector C,which is mateable with a corresponding connector D of an adjacent slavelighted cup holder 108, such that all of the slave lighted cup holders108 are operatively connected to be controlled by the cup holdercontroller 116 of the master lighted cup holder 106.

As shown in FIG. 3, the master lighted cup holder 106 includes a cupholder body 118, a light producing light source 120, a lighted element122 and a light-sensitive element 124. The lighted element 122, of theexemplary embodiment, takes the form of an elongated member oftranslucent material, formed into a ring, and having the light source120 attached thereto for illuminating the lighted element 122. It iscontemplated that the lighted element would be formed from a transparentor translucent material such as plastic or glass, a portion of a fiberoptic cable, or from any other appropriate material.

The cup holder body 118 is adapted for attachment to the armrests 114 ofthe seating arrangement 102. The cup holder body 118, of the exemplaryembodiment, includes a substantially tubular side wall 126 which issubstantially closed at a lower end thereof by a bottom wall 128 andopen at a top end 130 thereof, such that the tubular side wall 118 andbottom wall 128 define a cup holding receptacle 132. In otherembodiments of the invention, the side wall 126 and bottom wall 128 mayinclude one or more slots or holes therethrough.

The tubular side wall 126 of the cup holder body 118 also defines anaxis 134 of the master lighted cup holder 106, and the cup holder body118. The cup holder body 118 further includes a flange 136 extendingsubstantially radially outward from the tubular side wall 126 at theopen top end 130 of the cup holder 106.

The tubular side wall 126 is stepped inward, adjacent the bottom wall128, to form a mounting surface 138 adjacent the bottom wall 128. Thelighted element 122 is mounted on the mounting surface 138, within thereceptacle 132, adjacent the bottom wall 128 of the cup holder body 118.

By virtue of this arrangement, both the lighted element 122 and thelight source 120 attached to the lighted element 122 are located withinthe receptacle 132 adjacent the bottom wall 128 of the cup holder body118. In the exemplary embodiment, the light source is a light emittingdiode (LED), but, in other embodiments of the invention, any otherappropriate light source may be utilized. LED's are particularly wellsuited for use as the light source 120 because they produce much lessheat than incandescent bulbs.

The light-sensitive element 124 is attached to, and extends through theflange 136 at the top end 130 of the body 118 of the cup holder 106, insuch a manner that a light sensitive surface 140 of the light-sensitiveelement 124 is exposed to ambient light impinging upon an upper surfaceof the flange 136.

The light source 120 and light-sensitive element 124, of the masterlighted cup holder 106, are operatively connected to one another, andthe electrical connectors A, B by the cup holder controller 116 in sucha manner that the cup holder controller 116 will only allow electricalpower from the connector A to reach the light source 120 and theelectrical connector B of the master lighted cup holder 106 when ambientlight, as detected by the light sensitive surface 140 of thelight-sensitive element 124 drops below a pre-selected lower thresholdof intensity. Conversely, when ambient light falling upon the lightsensitive surface 140 of the light-sensitive element 124 exceeds asecond pre-selected threshold, the light-sensitive element 124 willsignal the cup holder 116 to cut off power to the light source 120 andthe connector B of the master lighted cup holder 106.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slave lighted cup holders 108, of the exemplaryembodiment of the first exemplary embodiment of the lighted cup holderapparatus 100, are essentially identical to the master lighted cupholder 106, with the exemption that the slave lighted cup holders 106 donot include the light-sensitive element 124 or the cup holder controller116. For purposes of manufacturing economy and inventory reduction, thecup holder body 118, lighted element 122 and light source 120, of theslave lighted cup holders 108 are identical to the equivalent parts ofthe master lighted cup holder 106, in the exemplary embodiments of theinvention specifically described herein. It will be understood, however,that in other embodiments of the invention, the master and slave lightedcup holders 106, 108 need not have identical configurations.

As discussed above, in relation to FIG. 2, the light source 120 of theslave lighted cup holders 108 is connected to a first electricalconnector D configured to mate with and receive electrical power fromthe connector B of the master lighted cup holder 106. The light source120 of the slave cup holder 108, of the exemplary embodiment, also isoperatively connected to provide power through an output connector Cwhich is configured to mate with the input connector D of another one ofthe slave lighted cup holders 108. In the exemplary embodiment of theinvention, all of the slave lighted cup holders are identical, with eachincluding both the input connector D and the output connector C. It willbe recognized, however, by those having skill in the art, that in otherembodiments of the invention, the output connector C may be eliminatedfrom the slave lighted cup holder 108 at the distal end of the lightedcup holder circuit 104 shown in FIG. 2.

Although not specifically shown in the drawings discussed thus far, itwill be understood that the invention may be practiced with multiplelight sources 120 attached to a common lighted element 122, or multiplelighted elements 122, in other embodiments of the invention. FIG. 5 isan electrical schematic illustrating the internal electricalconstruction of the cup holder controller 116, transformer 110, andmaster and slave lighted cup holders 106, 108, in an embodiment of theinvention where both the master and slave lighted cup holders 106, 108each include two light sources 120 in the form of light emitting diodes.In other forms of the invention having lighted cup holders located in afolding backrest, or other stowable structure, which would block ambientlight from impinging on the light-sensitive element when the stowablestructure is in the stowed position, the electrical construction of theinvention may also include a positionally actuated on-off switch (notshown) for over-riding the light-sensitive element when the stowablestructure is in the stowed position.

Those having skill in the art will recognize, that the invention is notlimited to use with the specific seating arrangement 102 shown in FIG.1, as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a secondexemplary embodiment of a lighted cup holder apparatus 200, according tothe invention, includes a seating arrangement 202 having threeupholstered reclining chair portions 206 connected by modular spacingunits 204, disposed between the three upholstered reclining chairportions 204. The modular spacers 206 each include an upholsteredarmrest 208. Master and slave lighted cup holders 106, 108, configuredand connected in the manner described above in relation to the firstexemplary embodiment 100, are mounted in the modular spacers 206, withineasy reach of occupants of the chair portions 204.

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary embodiment of a lighted cup holder 300,according to the invention, in which a flange 302 of the cup holder body304 includes an expanded section 306 thereof, for mounting therein of acontrol switch 308 for a massage mechanism of a seating arrangement, anda USB port 310. As will be understood, by those having skill in the art,various other types of controls and connections may alternatively beincluded in a flange, or be otherwise attached to a lighted cup holder,according to the invention. For example, other types of outputs forconnection of an audio headset may be provided, together with anindividual volume control for each of the occupants using the seatingarrangement. In similar fashion, for seating arrangements which do nothave a massager, but may, for example, have a powered, recliningmechanism, appropriate controls may be included in a lighted cup holder,according to the invention. By incorporating such controls andconnectors into the lighted cup holder, construction of the seatingarrangement may be simplified, and aesthetic appearance be approved.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Although the foregoing description of the present invention has beenshown and described with reference to particular embodiments andapplications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. Itwill be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a numberof changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the inventionas described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit orscope of the present invention. The particular embodiments andapplications were chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications,variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within thescope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims wheninterpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly,legally, and equitably entitled.

1. A cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement, the apparatuscomprising: a) a cup holder body adapted for attachment to the seatingarrangement and having a cup receptacle therein wherein the cup holderbody includes a substantially tubular sidewall, substantially closed ata lower end thereof by a bottom wall, and open at a top end thereof,such that the tubular sidewall and bottom wall define the cup holdingreceptacle; and b) a flange extending substantially radially outwardfrom the tubular side wall at the open top end of the cup holder,wherein the flange comprises a control switch or connection.
 2. The cupholder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein saidcontrol switch or connection resides within an expanded section of saidflange.
 3. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim1, wherein said connection comprises a USB port.
 4. The cup holderapparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein said connectioncomprises an audio headset connection.
 5. The cup holder apparatus for aseating arrangement of claim 1, wherein said control switch comprises amassage mechanism control switch.
 6. The cup holder apparatus for aseating arrangement of claim 5, wherein said seating arrangementcomprises a massage mechanism.
 7. The cup holder apparatus for a seatingarrangement of claim 1, wherein said control switch comprises a volumecontrol switch.
 8. A cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement, theapparatus comprising: at least one cup holder having a cup holder bodyand a flange; the cup holder body being adapted for attachment to theseating arrangement, and including a substantially tubular sidewall,substantially closed at a lower end thereof by a bottom wall, and openat a top end thereof, such that the tubular sidewall and the bottom walldefine a cup holding receptacle, and wherein the side wall or the bottomwall include one or more slots or holes therethrough; wherein thetubular sidewall is stepped inward adjacent to the bottom wall to formthe mounting surface; and wherein the flange extends substantiallyradially outward from the tubular side wall at the open top end of thecup holder and comprises a control switch or connection.
 9. The cupholder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8, wherein saidcontrol switch or connection resides within an expanded section of saidflange.
 10. The cup holder apparatus for a seating arrangement of claim8, wherein said connection comprises a USB port.
 11. The cup holderapparatus for a seating arrangement of claim 8, wherein said connectioncomprises an audio headset connection.
 12. The cup holder apparatus fora seating arrangement of claim 8, wherein said control switch comprisesa massage mechanism control switch.
 13. The cup holder apparatus for aseating arrangement of claim 12, wherein said seating arrangementcomprises a massage mechanism.
 14. The cup holder apparatus for aseating arrangement of claim 13, wherein said control switch comprises avolume control switch.